All weekend

Newport News

Friday-Sunday/Holiday Pops: Home for the Holidays/The Ferguson CenterJoin us for the must-see holiday tradition of the season—Home for the Holidays! Conducted by Robert Shoup, VSO Chorusmaster/Staff Conductor, our holiday performances have become a locals’ favorite at year’s end. There’s no better way to lift your spirits than with seasonal songs and traditional carols delivered in full sound and spectacle by the Virginia Symphony, the inspirational voices of Virginia Symphony Orchestra Chorus and special guests. Shoup comments, “Home for the Holidays will have all the magical elements you’ve come to expect—high energy, familiar carols and lots of holiday warmth! And we’ll even throw in a surprise or two! We can’t wait to celebrate the season with all of you!”Click here for tickets and more information

Norfolk

Ongoing/Garden of Lights/Norfolk Botanical Garden: Ends 12/31
Drive through more than a million twinkling lights this winter. Don’t miss Virginia’s favorite holiday tradition. Bring your family and friends to our 21st annual light show extravaganza for a magical holiday experience. During this event, the Garden is transformed into a winter wonderland where you can enjoy a 2-mile drive through a million sparkling lights bringing the four seasons to life.$25 Per Car (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) $20 Per Car (Monday – Thursday)

Ongoing/Dickens’ Christmas Towne/Nauticus
This holiday season, journey through a magical world of Christmas characters, Victorian carolers, sweet treats, shops, games and crafts. Along the way, you can enjoy photos with Father Christmas, a London pub, outdoor train rides (Saturday and Sunday evenings), lively musical performances, an indoor Christmas train display, unique seasonal gifts, strolling carolers and Victorian street scenes.$5 for adults, $4 for children (4-12), ages 3 and under are free

Friday-Sunday/A Christmas Story- The Musical/Saint Patrick’s Catholic SchoolThis musical, which received rave reviews on its Broadway run, is based on the movie classic that runs round-the-clock on television every Christmas. Set in the 1940s in the fictional town of Homan, Indiana, the musical follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker and his quest the Holy Grail of Christmas gifts-an Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle.Click here for tickets

Ongoing/Santa’s Seaside Village/Atlantic & 30th St.
A new holiday tradition is coming to Hampton Roads this winter! Santa’s Seaside Village is setting up shop at Atlantic Avenue & 30th Street to delight the young and young-at-heart with animated displays, shopping, live entertainment, and Santa Claus himself…all with a “beachy” twist! Walk through the animated displays in our giant tent. See Santa’s elves busily building, packing, and shipping toys to be delivered on Christmas Eve to boys and girls everywhere.

Ongoing/McDonald’s Holiday Lights at the Beach/Boardwalk
Take a shining journey into nautical, holiday, and adventure lands – all along the beautiful Virginia Beach boardwalk. Festive fish, jumping dolphins, frolicking porpoises – all in bright, colored lights against the clear night-time sky, are the stars of McDonald’s Holiday Lights at the Beach, presented by Liberty Tax Service.$15 for cars, $25 for limos, $45 for motor coaches, $25 for minibuses

Saturday-Sunday/A Celtic Christmas/Atlantic Shores Baptist Church, Virginia Beach
If you attend only one Christmas celebration this year, you will want to make it… A Celtic Christmas…December 12 at 3 p.m. & 13 at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. ! Our community is rich with excellent musicians, and this program features some of the most accomplished rhythm and orchestral instrumentalists in the area, along with The Tidewater Pipes and Drums, and from Tarland, Scotland, Paul and Shona Anderson– Scottish fiddler and folk singer, joining with Hampton Roads’ community choir–The King’s Choir, and With Bells On, handbell choir.FREE

Williamsburg/Yorktown

Ongoing/A Colonial Christmas/Yorktown Victory Center & Jamestown Settlement
A Colonial Christmas” at Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center offers a glimpse of 17th- and 18th-century holiday traditions with special interpretive programs, and December 26-31, musical entertainment of the period.Click here for ticket prices and more information

Ongoing/Christmas Town/Busch Gardens
Christmas Town brings holiday traditions to life with heartwarming shows, delicious holiday dining and festive shopping opportunities. Experience Christmas traditions from around the world and keep warm with a mug of Busch Gardens’ signature hot chocolate. This year, Christmas Town is brighter than ever with more than eight million lights. Of course, no visit would be complete without a stop at the North Pole to see Santa’s workshop and meet the jolly old elf-himself.Click here for schedule and ticket information

Friday, December 11

Hampton

7 p.m./Hampton Christmas Lighted Boat Parade/Hampton Maritime CenterCruise into the holiday spirit at the 27th annual Downtown Hampton Lighted Boat Parade. More than 20 boats are expected to participate in this free nautical light show taking place on the downtown Hampton waterfront. The parade of illuminated power and sail boats will be visible from anywhere along the Hampton River. However, spectators wanting to hear the narration will want to find a cozy spot near the Hampton Maritime Center.FREE

Newport News

4 p.m./Holiday Frost Celebration/Downing Gross Cultural Center
We’re transforming our space into the seven continents of the globe. Come for a magical tour around the world and experience how the holidays are celebrated in different cultures. All children will receive a special gift donated by our amazing community!FREE

Saturday, December 12

Hampton

7 p.m./Hampton Holly Days Parade/Downtown HamptonThe Peninsula’s largest illuminated parade! Join us for an evening of enchantment as you view the creative floats, listen to the high school bands, salute the military marching units and exciting drill teams, and wave at the beauty queens. Of course this parade is not complete without everyone’s favorite, Santa Claus.FREE

Norfolk

12 p.m.-5 p.m./NEON Holiday Market/The PlotThe most wonderful time of year is just around the corner in the NEON District. After an electric debut during the NEON Festival, we are back to bring you the NEON Holiday Market at the Plot. Browse local vendors for handmade crafts, jewelry, accessories, artwork and much more. Enjoy warm & savory treats, sparkling lights and festive live music while you shop! Free parking is available at the Cedar Grove lot on Monticello Avenue or $5 cash collect on entry at the Harrison Opera House.

Suffolk

7 p.m./Suffolk Holiday Parade/Downtown SuffolkBe sure to join in the lights and sounds of the 2015 Suffolk Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 12, 2015, at 7pm. Find the best spot to watch the floats, equestrian units, marching bands and festive vehicles stroll down West Washington Street and take a turn up North Main Street, with the parade route ending on Finney Avenue. This year’s grandstand will be in front of the Suntrust building on Main Street.

Sunday, December 13

Newport News

3 p.m., 7 p.m./The Academy of Dance presents The Christmas Extravaganza/The Ferguson Center
If you can see only one Christmas celebration this year, this is it! The Christmas Extravaganza is a delightful show for young and old that’s a perfect way to begin the holidays! This wonderful Christmas celebration features nearly 300 performers from the Academy of Dance including the National Dance Champion “Showbiz Kids” plus over 50 Elves in costume entering in sleighs, angels, toy soldiers, beautiful ballerinas, fantastic tap dancers, exciting Christmas hip-hop dancers, Christmas vocalists, plus much, much more.Click here for tickets and more information

Suffolk

3 p.m./It’s a Wonderful Life/Suffolk Center for the Cultural Arts
Almost everyone knows the heartwarming story of the classic holiday movie IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. It is the uplifting tale of George Bailey and the people of Bedford Falls. It’s about neighbors, friends and family, and about the difference that one person can make in the lives of so many. This fresh adaptation of Frank Capra’s beloved film is set as a 1940’s “live broadcast” and takes us back to the Golden Age of radio. The WVL studio’s “On Air” sign lights up and this favorite classic comes to life through a bygone live radio show featuring a few hardworking actors, live sound effects … and a listener’s imagination.$20 Adults; $10 Students (ages 2-18)

Virginia Beach

4 p.m./Jingle Bell Jam/The Sandler Center
Santa Claus is coming to town and he’s stopping by to be a part of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s ever-popular Jingle Bell Jam! Celebrate the magic of the season with an afternoon that showcases the music of the holidays performed by the best talent in Hampton Roads. You won’t want to miss this holly jolly concert! Get your tickets early– this family favorite is sure to sell out!Click here for tickets and more information

Williamsburg

2 p.m., 5 p.m./Christmas with the Williamsburg Choral Guild/King of Glory Lutheran ChurchIn its 40th anniversary season, the Guild is pleased to bring back its family-friendly concert of holiday favorites and a community sing-along of beloved carols, conducted by Artistic Director Jay BeVille. No tickets will be required; admission is FREE. Audience members are invited to bring a nonperishable food item to benefit Fish and Grove Christian Outreach Center; in addition, a free-will offering will be received to help defray the expense of the concert space.FREE